Namaste (greetings) from India, the last stop in my trip in Asia. This week
I've selected words originating in the ancient Indian language, Sanskrit. The
word Sanskrit literally means refined or perfected.

When we talk about a software guru or an economics guru, we're invoking a word
from this classical language. The word "guru" came to English from Sanskrit
via Hindi. It literally means "venerable" or "weighty". Going farther back,
it descended from the same Indo-European root that gave us "gravity", "engrave",
"grave" and "aggravate" to name a few. Look for more words from Sanskrit this
week.

In November, I'll be speaking at Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and New Delhi. If
you live in either of these places, you're welcome to attend. See details.

karma

karma (KAHR-ma) noun
1. In the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain religions, a person's action (bad or good) that determines his or her destiny.
2. Destiny; fate.
3. An aura or atmosphere generated by someone or something.

"In his introduction to the new service last week, Apple Computer CEO Steve
Jobs said those who give up their illegal download habit and use iTunes
will be rewarded with `good karma,' as they are supporting artists."
Katie Dean; PC User Whistles a Happy ITunes; Wired News; Oct 21, 2003.

X-Bonus

It is difficult to get the news from poems yet men die miserably every day
for lack of what is found there. -William Carlos Williams (1883-1963)